4th Fleet

The 4th Fleet was a reserve formation of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy, which existed in the 1850s. It initially included two squadrons, one of newly constructed commerce raiders and another of steamships, totaling some 34 warships. The fleet was the fourth and shortest lasting of the four reserve fleets of commerce raiders and steamships that had been formed during that time. However, in 1857 the two squadrons of the 4th Fleet were deployed to East Asia, where they became part of the East Indies and China Station. The command of the 4th Fleet was dissolved and absorbed into the China Station.